2016 Carolina Panthers

Don Wassall

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Carolina usually seems to be one of the blacker teams in the league, but with 5 White starters and 16 Whites on the roster, they are average or even a little better than average, especially in the latter category.

There certainly are some players to root for, led by LB Luke Kuechly and TE Greg Olsen, and backups WR Brenton Bersin and S Colin Jones.

The offensive line features three very solid White starters in LG Andrew Norwell, the 325 pound third year man out of Ohio State; C Ryan Kalil, drafted by Carolina in the 2nd round back in ’07; and RT Mike Remmers, an Oregon State alum now playing in his fourth NFL season.

They are backed up by G Tyler Larson and C Gino Gradkowski.

Greg Olsen is one of the top tight ends in the NFL, coming off back to back 1,000 yard seasons. Now 31, he has 542 career receptions.

Scott Simonson is third on the depth chart at tight end.

Now in his 12th season, Derek Anderson is the primary backup to starting QB Cam Newton and is the only White QB on the roster.

Brenton Bersin is used mainly as a special teams demon who occasionally gets to return punts and kickoffs. He caught just 13 passes in 2014 and 9 in 2015 and his position on the team is always precarious.

The Panthers have four White defensive players, led by Kuechly, the best linebacker in the league since he was a rookie. Entering his fifth season he’s still just 25 years old.

A. J. Klein out of Iowa State is a very capable linebacker who occasionally gets to start due to injuries. He can play on the outside or inside.

David Mayo is listed directly behind the aging Thomas Davis at WLB. Davis is 33 and has overcome three blown out knees but likely is just about out of gas.

Safety Colin Jones is a speedburner who should be a starter at safety or cornerback but remains a backup at free safety and is a special teams stalwart.

LB Brian Blechen (Utah) and TE Beau Sandland (Montana State) made the practice squad.

Starters:
LG Andrew Norwell
C Ryan Kalil
RT Mike Remmers
TE Greg Olsen
MLB Luke Kuechly

Number of White players on 53 man roster: 16

Grade: D
 

RTTAS

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Sep 16, 2015
Messages
310
As with most of the NFL, if you're white you probably won't make it unless you're phenomenally good - which is definitely the case for Carolina. Kuechly is the best LB in the league (and possibly the best defensive player over Watt and Smith); Olsen is quite possibly the second best TE in the league behind Gronk; Kalil is an elite centre, and Norwell and Remmets are solid linemen- especially compared to the horrible LT that is Michael Oher.
 
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